3 House Republicans from Florida with Cuban roots carefully navigate Trump's immigration policies
Miami Democrats set up a billboard on a heavily traveled expressway showing the three House members and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a former Florida senator who is also of Cuban descent, with the label 'traitors.'
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Diaz-Balart, Salazar and Rep. Carlos Gimenez have defended Trump despite the president's efforts to eliminate protections that allow hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, Cubans, and other migrants to live and work legally in the United States.
Advertisement
Last November, Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate since 1988 to win Miami-Dade County, the metropolitan area with the highest share of immigrants in the country. While Republicans believe the rightward shift among Latinos indicates support for stricter border restrictions and mass deportations, Democrats think such measures may backfire on these lawmakers if these restrictions hit too close to home.
In his recent visit with Republican women, and after not mentioning immigration, one of the few questions Diaz-Balart fielded was about temporary protections to Venezuelans, which Trump is trying to end. Diaz-Balart justified Trump's actions, saying the president was doing 'exactly what he said he was going to do.'
Advertisement
'We have a lot of friends who are in this situation, and they have no way to adjust,' said Milena Mitraud, a lawyer who asked the question.
Here's a closer look at the three lawmakers:
Maria Elvira Salazar
Salazar, 63, has been perhaps the most vocal of the three, saying Trump must not eliminate some of the immigration protections that are popular among Miami residents, specifically advocating for Cubans and some Venezuelans. A federal judge recently intervened to block the Trump administration from ending temporary legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans. After the judge's ruling, Salazar gave Trump — not the judge — credit for 'doing the right thing.'
Salazar has blamed Democratic President Joe Biden for creating a system under which Cubans were no longer being allowed to apply for legal residency a year after arriving in the U.S. under the Cuban Adjustment Act. She said she has put pressure on the new administration to stop arresting those Cubans who were allowed under that system and said she intervened and secured the release of a nursing student.
She made the argument that she is pushing for immigration changes — anathema to much of the Republican base nationally — in a video she posted to X only in Spanish.
'We are the only ones in Congress who are helping you,' she said. 'We're trying to make that piece of trash paper the Biden administration gave them so that they can receive parole and then benefit from the Cuban Adjustment Act.'
Advertisement
The former broadcaster recently agreed with a Univision anchor that she was 'the only Republican' trying to work on immigration changes. She talked about a 'new dawn' in saying that Trump would be as effective on immigration as Republican President Ronald Reagan was in countering the Soviet threat.
'Things are changing,' she said. 'President Trump has said that those illegals who are criminals should leave, and I agree. They should be kicked out. But the lady who has been here cleaning for 10, 15, 20 years, or the one who is picking tomatoes, or the one who is picking oranges, or the one who is peeling potatoes in a New York restaurant, we must give them dignity.'
Salazar, in an opinion column for the Miami Herald on Friday, defended her record on immigration in response to a letter by a Cuban American health care businessman published in the newspaper. The former GOP political donor accused Salazar, Diaz-Balart, Gimenez and Rubio of 'complicity and cowardice' in the face of Trump's 'cruelty toward immigrants.'
'I don't belong in any letter calling out inaction. I've been on the battlefield in Congress, willing to take the political risk and lead the charge,' she wrote.
Mario Diaz-Balart
Diaz-Balart, 63, joined Salazar and Gimenez releasing a joint statement after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced she was revoking deportation protections for Venezuelans. The lawmakers said they stood in solidarity with Venezuelans, who may be persecuted or oppressed if deported to their native country.
'The Venezuelan people have endured repression, corruption, and human rights abuses for far too long in Venezuela, and it is still not safe for many to return,' the joint statement said.
Advertisement
But the dean of the Florida congressional delegation has mostly defended Trump's actions, blamed Biden for allowing record-high numbers of immigrants into the U.S. and claimed many migrants who arrived during the Biden administration are criminals. Studies show immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans, but some immigrants in the U.S. illegally have been convicted in recent murder cases that gained notoriety during the campaign.
When meeting with Republican women in Miami this month, Diaz-Balart told them he is working with the administration to create a 'process' to screen people who come from countries where it is more likely they would have a legitimate case of asylum. He said that while working on that, they have asked to allow those who are already here and are not a threat to the public to remain in the country. But he was still critical of those who are arriving illegally.
Carlos Gimenez
Gimenez, 71, a former mayor of Miami-Dade County, has defended Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration while expressing solidarity with those Venezuelans who receive temporary legal protections.
But the Cuban-born congressman has gone a step further in proposing cutting off remittances and halting all travel to and from Cuba. That would impact many of those who have arrived more recently who have relatives living on the island.
In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Gimenez said there could be limited exceptions authorized by the State Department.
'The murderous dictatorship in Cuba is on life-support,' he said in the letter. 'The regime cannot even keep the lights on. And America must stand with the Cuban people to topple this pathetic gang once and for all.'
Advertisement
In a statement, Gimenez's spokesman Roberto Lugones said the lawmaker believes these actions eliminate Cuba's revenue streams while 'supporting the brave Cuban people in their quest for freedom.' Regarding immigration protections, Gimenez wants cases to be decided on an individual basis.
'Congressman Gimenez supports a case-by-case solution for exiles with legitimate political asylum claims who are stuck in immigration limbo due to Joe Biden's incoherent and reckless open-border policies,' the statement said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Democrats in Bryan County hope to sway residents to vote blue as election cycle ramps up
Democrats in Bryan County are looking to garner support and bolster nominees that can spearhead more blue votes at the local level and beyond. In Richmond Hill, qualifying for mayor begins Aug. 18. The governor's race is heating up too as there are candidates who have announced their bid and have kicked off their respective campaign for the general election in May 2026. According to a voting map on Bryan County is predominantly red. Despite an area that has strong Republican backing, residents like Corey Foreman, president of the Bryan County Democratic Committee, want to change that. 'There is more hope in Bryan County than most people realize — and when we come together with purpose, things can change faster than anyone expects,' said Foreman. 'The numbers don't lie. Even if you think this is a county that cannot be flipped, I promise you, it's not. The potential here is real — and growing.' At the heart of the matter is concern regarding the Republican stronghold not only in the county but in the state. Foreman said affordable healthcare and the cost of living are top of mind. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Attorney General Chris Carr, Lt. Governor Burt Jones are also Republicans. According to Ballotpedia, Republicans make up 55% of Georgia lawmakers, including Ron Stephens, Jesse Petrea and Lehman Franklin, who all serve portions of Bryan County. Foreman said there is a place in the Democratic Party for those who may not see eye-to-eye on every topic. However, he feels strongly that issues such as reproductive rights and access to affordable health care are at the forefront of the party's concerns and issues Foreman says are controlled by the GOP. 'The Democratic Party needs action and to show the commitment of the true policy that we want to change for the people,' said Foreman. 'There is a little bit of fear - some Democrats aren't as bold and outspoken as others. I don't want to keep talking about the issues in Georgia and then hoping that the Republican control fixes it. I want the Democratic Party to step up and be the change.'In 2021, Bryan County was named the fastest growing county in the state, according to U.S. Census data. With its growing population comes opportunities for Governor Gubernatorial Candidate and Democratic Senator Jason Esteves to flip red voters blue. Foreman was recently appointed to President of the BCDC and since then, he has been working diligently to ensure residents feel the presence of Democrats in their community. He spoke before a large crowd at a rally last month protesting Trump's Big Beautiful Bill and has attended a handful of other rallies. The party also hosted a community Q&A earlier this month with leaders from around the reigon, including Alderman Kurtis Purtee of Savannah and Commissioner Justin Frazier of Liberty County. Democratic gubernatorial and Senator Jason Esteves visited Savannah Aug. 3 as part of his campaign tour but said he plans to come back to South Georgia to talk to voters in Bryan County at a later date. Esteves said the goal is not necessarily to turn the entire county blue, but to earn some of the republican votes, even if it is a small percentage. 'Does it mean that we win the county? No, but have we made progress and does that mean we have a Democrat as governor? Yes, and that's the kind of progress that we're going to be making not only in Bryan County but across the state," said Esteves. But it's a tall order in a state led by sitting Gov. Brian Kemp that swung back to red in the 2024 presidential election and in a country with a Republican-majority House and Senate. Esteves said one of his primary goals is to highlight issues within the economy, such as a lack of affordable housing or the need to provide capital for entrepreneurs to start their own business. His number one goal is to keep the conversation of affordability in all aspects at the forefront of his conversation when talking to voters. 'I think if Democrats talk to voters and in counties like Bryan County or a blue county about how we're going to keep and grow the money in their pockets, then we can win by building a broad-based coalition,' said Esteves. 'What voters want to talk about is how we can help make life more affordable for them so that they can afford a place to live, food on the table and health care.' Esteves wears hats that may appeal to a variety of voters. He is a lawyer, business owner of an urgent care and two breakfast restaurants and a former middle school social science public school teacher. Still, his political stint has been a relatively recent endeavor as the state Democratic Party treasurer since 2019, and the District 35 Senator since 2023, representing Douglas and parts of Fulton County. 'It was former President Barak Obama who said we need to stop looking for Messiahs, we need to stop looking for someone to save us,' said Esteves. 'We have to do the hard work to save ourselves. No one is coming to save us in this state. We're not going to celebrity our way to victory - it's nothing but hard work and meeting voters where they are." Foreman said he is seeing an increase in membership numbers in the Bryan County Democratic Committee not only from newcomers to the area but from the existing Democratic base in the county. 'On the statewide issues, they are realizing that these issues are all the same,' said Foreman. 'I feel like people are open to new leadership and new conversations. The base of Democrats in Bryan County, they are growing. They're not the loudest but they're present and they're starting to get louder.' Foreman is calling on his community to get involved at the local level. 'Richmond Hill municipal qualifying is coming up in August and we need people ready to step forward and run,' said Foreman. 'If you've ever considered being that voice for change — this is the moment. I want you to be involved. I need you to be involved.' Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@ Jillian Magtoto contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Corey Foreman and Jason Esteves talk politics among democratic party Solve the daily Crossword
Chicago Tribune
24 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announces plans for second immigration detention facility in north Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration is preparing to open a second immigration detention facility at a state prison in north Florida, as a federal judge decides the fate of the state's holding center for immigrants at an isolated airstrip in the Florida Everglades dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz.' DeSantis announced Thursday that the new facility is to be housed at the Baker Correctional Institution, a state prison about 43 miles (69 kilometers) west of Jacksonville. It is expected to hold 1,300 immigration detention beds, though that capacity could be expanded to 2,000, state officials said. After opening the Everglades facility last month, DeSantis justified opening the second detention center, dubbed 'Deportation Depot' by the state, by saying President Donald Trump's administration needs the additional capacity to hold and deport more immigrants. 'There is a demand for this,' DeSantis said. 'I'm confident it will be filled.'
The Hill
24 minutes ago
- The Hill
School choice may be the fix to DC's crime crisis
Washington, D.C., faces a serious crime crisis, with violence and homicide rates dangerously high. Even government officials have been targeted. While the Trump administration's plan to increase federal involvement may help temporarily, relying on permanent federal intervention is unsustainable. The long-term solution requires tackling root causes — especially chronic disengagement from education, which is widespread in D.C.'s traditional public schools and contributes significantly to youth crime. In the 2023–2024 school year, more than half of all high school students in Washington, D.C., were chronically absent, meaning they missed 10 percent or more of the school year. This absenteeism represents a failure to keep students connected to constructive environments and opportunities for success. When young people are not in school, evidence overwhelmingly shows they are at much higher risk of engaging in criminal behavior. The academic outcomes for D.C. public school students further illustrate the crisis. On recent standardized tests, only about 32 percent of students in grades 3–5 met or exceeded expectations in English Language Arts, a slight improvement from the previous year but still alarmingly low. Just 11 percent of high school students met or exceeded math standards. These outcomes are a direct reflection of an education system unable to provide the foundation students need for success, making disengagement and subsequent criminal activity more likely. Charter schools offer a proven, evidence-based alternative that can disrupt this cycle. Unlike traditional public schools in D.C., charter schools provide students with 30 to 50 percent more instructional time, effectively giving students up to four additional months of schooling each year. This extra time in the classroom correlates with improved academic performance and stronger student engagement. A landmark study conducted by Harvard and Princeton researchers demonstrated that winning a lottery to attend a New York City charter school almost completely eliminated the chance of incarceration for male students in the study sample. The same study also found a 59 percent reduction in teen pregnancy rates for female students who attended charter schools through the lottery. Another study, published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, found that winning a lottery to attend a school of choice in Charlotte, N.C., halved the rate of criminal activity among high-risk male students. And research on Milwaukee's voucher program found that students attending charter schools were significantly less likely to commit crimes by their mid-twenties compared to matched peers in public schools. Despite delivering compelling results, D.C.'s charter schools face significant funding disparities compared to traditional public schools. Though only a few studies have examined the precise funding differences between charter schools and public schools, one found that charter schools in D.C. receive approximately 41 percent less funding per pupil than public schools, averaging $17,525 per student compared to $29,808 per student — a gap of $12,283. This significant disparity limits charter schools' ability to expand facilities, attract qualified staff and improve programs. Meanwhile, demand for charter school seats far exceeds supply, with 17,047 students on waiting lists during the 2021–2022 school year, reflecting strong parental preference for alternatives to the struggling traditional system. Despite this funding disparity, evidence shows that public charter schools in Washington, D.C., specifically, continue to outperform traditional public schools. The success of charter schools in other cities demonstrates what could be achieved if D.C. removed these barriers and increased support. New York City's Success Academy, whose student population is 98 percent non-white and predominantly low-income, achieved remarkable academic results: 96 percent of students passed state math exams and 83 percent passed English Language Arts exams. This starkly contrasts with New York City's overall public school proficiency rate of around 49 percent, illustrating that well-supported charter schools can deliver superior outcomes even among disadvantaged populations. Washington, D.C. must view charter school expansion and equitable funding as integral parts of its strategy to reduce crime. Increasing access to quality education through charter schools addresses the root causes of criminal behavior by keeping youth engaged in structured, rigorous environments that foster academic achievement and discourage delinquency. Ultimately, no city can arrest or incarcerate its way out of a crime crisis. Long-term, sustainable solutions demand investments in education and opportunity. The District of Columbia has a proven tool in charter schools to disrupt the cycle of violence and provide at-risk youth with a pathway out of crime and into success. It is time for policymakers to remove funding disparities, lift arbitrary caps, and prioritize school choice as a core component of public safety reform in the nation's capital.
